A diplomat from the Russian Embassy allegedly hit a biker with his speeding car before ramming a barricade and assaulting a police official in South Delhi’s Moti Bagh Tuesday night. The Delhi Police have registered a case and written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), asking it to confirm the diplomat’s identity and position in the embassy.

“A case of rash driving, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, assaulting public servant and causing grievous injury has been registered in connection with the incident, but no one has been named in the FIR. We have ascertained the diplomat’s identity but it is yet to be confirmed, for which we have written to the MHA, requesting them to forward the matter to the Ministry of External Affairs and get the diplomat’s name and position verified for further probe into the matter,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Dependra Pathak.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the incident took place at 1.30 am. The diplomat, who was driving a white sedan, was allegedly in an inebriated condition, said a police official.

When he reached Moti Bagh, the diplomat allegedly lost control over his vehicle and hit a biker from behind, said the police. The biker was thrown off his motorcycle by the impact; he fell down and broke his arm. He was taken to the hospital and is in a stable condition now.

“The diplomat’s car then rammed a police barricade. When officials forced the diplomat to leave his vehicle, it seemed that he had sustained some injuries as well,” said a police officer.

The diplomat then allegedly got embroiled in an argument with police officials and assaulted a police constable.
“He made a phone call… after some time, another person came to the spot and escorted the diplomat back to his residence…. he did not seek any medical assistance,” the officer added.

“Prime-facie, it appears that he was drunk but that cannot be verified,” said the officer. Police are likely to submit a case report to the MHA within 24 hours, he said.

Investigators have also handed over images of the diplomat, obtained from CCTV cameras installed in the area, to the MHA, said police. Once the ministry confirms the identity and position of the diplomat, the police will look into the issue of diplomatic immunity, they said.